Device for use in guiding and supporting children



March 10, '1 942.

E. J. NADEAU DEVICE FOR USE IN GUIDING AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN Fild Oct. 9, 1940 INVENTOR. By 773W 0% fa ozzam J/l adea A TTORN E Y.

Patented Mar. 10, 1942 DEVICE FOR USE IN GUIDING AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN Edouard J. Nadeau, Providence, R. 1.

Application October 9, 1940, Serial No. 360,482

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for guiding and supporting children.

While I am aware that various types of socalled baby walkers have been provided for rigidly supporting a child while learning to walk, these devices have been found impractical in use due to the turning movements of the child while so learning. If such devices are made flexible they have a tendency to become tangled due to the quick movements of the child, and a main object of my invention is to provide a device for this general purpose which cannot get tangled up despite any turning movement of the child.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide the maximum safety and comfort for the child, giving him the necessary support during any of his active movements and convenience for the adult guider in supporting the child as the supporting means stays in a fixed position at all times on the adult.

A further object of my invention is to provide a greater support for the child in learning to walk. Due to the universal movement permitted the child a device is provided superior to prior types which will permit freedom of movement of the child to permit the child to acquire equilibrium and balance.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a device which is perfectly safe for the child. If it is retained taut by the adult guider it is practically imposible for the child to get into a position dangerous to itself.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this description which is symmetric and pleasing in appearance, hygenic, being constructed of readily washable material and which may be folded into a small compass so as to be readily carried by an adult when not in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which may be used if desired in assisting one or more children at the same time, one child for instance, by a baby harness or belt and the other child by a childs holding handle.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a rigid connecting rod of a construction providing a swivel joint at each end thereof of greater inherent strength per unit area so as to make this portion of my device capable of free swivel movement at each end thereof, yet fully capable of withstanding any weight which may be brought upon it by the child.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawing which illustrates thereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device for use in guiding and supporting children constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating my improved device in use with an adult guiding a baby by a baby harness and a larger child by a childs holding handle both secured to my im proved device.

Fig.'3 is a diagrammatic sectional view partial- 1y broken away of the improved type of dowel stock having the swivel joint connection at each end thereof which I preferably employ as the connecting rod of my device.

In the drawing, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, [0 generally indicates a device for use in guiding and supporting children constructed in accordance with my invention. 7

As shown in Fig. 2, my device may be conveniently used for guiding a plurality of children of different heights, such as a bay l2 and a larger boy l4 by a single adult l6. Said device has means I8 on the upper end thereof for receiving the arm or hand 20 of the adult guider iii, in the preferred embodiment comprising the hoop IS, a rigid guide member or connecting rod 22, in my preferred embodiment shown comprising the dowel stock 22 having an upper end universally attached to said hoop l8 and means 24 controlling said one or more children universally attached to the lower end of said dowel stock 22 or rigid guide member. As stated, a main feature of my invention relates to the improved construction of the dowel stock 22. I preferably employ the dowel stock 22 with both an upper end 26 and a lower end 23 of reduced diameter. A cap member 30 and 32 is provided for each respective end of said dowel stock, said cap members 30 and 32 being provided with the respective central holes 34 and 36. A respective connector member 38 and 40 is provided for each end of said dowel stock, each being provided with a stem 42 and 44 projecting respectively inwardly through the respective holes 34 and 36 in said respective cap members 30 and 32 and each terminating in a respective enlarged end 46 and 48 within said respective cap member 30 and 32 exterior of the respective end of the dowel stock 22 to positively prevent any axial withdrawal of said respective stem 42 or 44 through its respective hole 34 or an embodiment 36. If desired a washer 49 may also be inserted just beyond said enlarged end. Each respective stem 42 and 44 is provided with suitable connector means on the exposed end thereof and also with means to rigidly secure each respective cap member 30 and 32 to its respective reduced end 26 and 28 of the dowel stock 22, and for this purpose in the embodiment shown, I insert a respective connecting pin 50 and 52 diametrically through said respective cap members and enclosed reduced end of the dowel stock thereby forming a very strong connection permitting said respective connector members 38 and 40 to be readily and easily rotatable within its respective cap member to provide a universal swivel. In the embodiment shown the upper connecting member 38 is provided at its upper exposed end with an eye 53 containing the hoop l8 therein and the lower exposed end of the lower connector member 40 is provided with the connector means comprising a snap hook 54, provided if desired with a spring blade 56 for detachably securing a child controlling means within said hook.

I have shown in the drawing two types of means for controlling a child which may be used alternatively for one child, or conjointly for two or more children. To provide an extension for a baby I provide a lead strap 58 comprising a strap of the belt type having a free end 60 and a suitable buckle 62 on the opposite end thereof for adjustably receiving the free end therein to provide in use a strap of double thickness. A ring 64 is provided at the upper end of the lead strap 58 for detachable securement to said snap hook 54. The lower end of the lead strap 58 may also be provided with a ring 66 having a snap hook .68 universallymounted thereon, said snap hook 68 being also provided with a locking spring blade if desired. I also provide a baby harness. While any desired type of baby harness may be employed, I preferably employ a simple childs belt 12 having a free end 14 and a buckle 16 of standard type on the opposite end thereof for attaching said adjustable belt 12 in adjustable lengths around a babys waist, as around the baby I2 shown in Fig. 2. Said belt 12 is also provided with a ring 18 through which the belt is threaded'detachably securable to said snap hook 10. As shown in Fig. 2 my device may be employed to guide a plurality of children and in case it be desired to guide a child 14 of larger height, I also provide a childs holding handle 80 of standard type comprising a piece of bent wire having a loop 82 at the upper end thereof for detachable securement to the snap hook 54 on the lower end of the dowel stock 22 and a lower end bent toform trunnions having a standard type of roller handle 84.

It is thus obvious that in use the hoop 18 may be readily grasped by the hand of the adult l6, or inserted over an arm as shown in Fig. 2. Where a baby harness 12 is desired this is first attached around the baby [2 and the length of my device adjusted by interposing the lead strap 58 between the baby harness 12 and snap hook 54 of the dowel stock 22, the baby belt 12 being adjusted to the size of the baby and the lead strap being adjusted in length to the height of the baby. Where it is also desired to guide a larger child 14, the childs holding handle 80 may be detachably secured to the snap hook 54 mounted for swivel movement on the lower end of the dowel stock'22. It is thus obvious that while the children may twist and turn as much as they want to, by proper manipulation of the device by the adult'guider, the children will be continuously supported and the device will not tangle up. The universal connections at the upper and lower ends of the connecting rod or dowel stock 22 are particularly desirable for use with a single child and when employing a baby harness, permitting the child to go through all sorts of contortions in learning to walk, or otherwise Without tangling the device and permitting the adult to readily support the child while learning to walk.

It is also obvious that if desired the various parts of my device may be disassembled and folded into small compass for carrying purposes.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for guiding a plurality of children of different heights, comprising a hoop for receiving the arm or hand of an adult guider, a rigid dowel stock having-an upper end universally attached to said hoop, a childs holding handle and alead strap universally attached to the lower end of said dowel stock and a baby harness universally attached to the lower end of said lead strap.

2. A device for guiding a plurality of children of different heights, comprising a hoop for receiving the arm or hand of an adult guider, a rigid dowel stock having an upper end attached to said hoop, a childs holding handle and a lead strap attached to the lower end of said dowel stock and a baby harness attached to the lower end of said leadstrap.

3. A device for guiding a child, comprising means at the upper end thereof for receiving the arm or hand of an adult guider, a rigid guide member having an upper end universally attached to said means, a lead strap universally attached to the lower end of said guide member. and a baby harness universally attached to the lower end of said lead strap.

4. A device for guiding a child, comprising a hoop for receiving the arm or hand of an adult guider, a rigid stock having an upper end universally attached to said hoop, a lead strap universally attached to the lower end of said dowel stock and a baby harness universally attached to thelower end of said lead strap.

5. A device for guiding a plurality of children of different heights comprising a hoop for receiving the arm or hand of an adult guider, a rigid dowel stock having upper and lower ends of reduced diameter, a cap member for the upper end having a central hole, a connector member comprising a stem extending through said cap hole and having an enlarged inner end to prevent withdrawal through said cap hole and an eye containing said hoop on the exposed upper end thereof, said connector member being rotatable within .said cap to provide a swivel connection between said dowel stock and hoop and a pin extending diametrically through said cap member and enclosed portion of said dowel stock, a cap member for the lower end of said dowel stock also having a central hole, a connector member comprising a stem extending through said cap hole and having an enlarged inner end to prevent withdrawal thereof through said cap hole and a snap hook on the exposed lower end thereof, said connector member being also rotatable within said cap to provide a swivel, a childs holding handle and a lead strap attached to said snap hook and a baby harness universally attached to the lower end of said lead strap.

6. A device for guiding a child, comprising a hoop for receiving the arm or hand of an adult guider, a rigid dowel stock having upper and lower ends of reduced diameter, a cap member for the upper end having a central hole, a connector member comprising a stem extending through said cap hole and having an enlarged inner end to prevent withdrawal through said cap hole and an eye containing said hoop on the exposed upper end thereof, said connector member being rotatable within said cap to provide a swivel connection between said dowel stock and hoop and a pin extending diametrically through said cap member and enclosed portion of said dowel stock, a cap member for the lower end of said dowel stock also having a central hole, a connector member comprising a stem extending through said cap hole and having an enlarged inner end to prevent withdrawal thereof through said cap hole and a snap hook on the exposed lower end thereof, said connector member being also rotatable within said cap to provide a swivel and means controlling said child detachably securable to said snap hook.

EDOUARD J. NADEAU. 

